Vehicle for receiving and delivering agricultural seeds and other granular material

ABSTRACT

A vehicle for receiving and delivering granular material, such as agricultural seeds, includes a frame supporting a container defining an open top chamber having a bottom outlet. An elongated conveyor is supported by a system which includes a first support arm having one end pivotally connected to a side wall of the container for multiple directional movement and a second support arm pivotably connected to the opposite end of the first support arm. The opposite end of the second support arm supports an intermediate portion of the conveyor near its center of gravity and in suspended relation for tilting and rotating the conveyor. Power actuators are connected to rotate and pivot the first support arm to position the conveyor in many selected positions including the conveyor inlet under the outlet of the chamber, a storage position and a position between horizontal and substantially inclined for filling other containers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/185,172, filed Nov. 9, 2018 (pending) which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/454,061, filed Mar. 9, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No.10,150,400), the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a vehicle for receiving and delivering seeds.In general, these vehicles are commonly referred to as Seed Tenders andinclude a container having one or more open top bins or chambers forreceiving a type of seed or different types of seed and for deliveringthe seed to an agricultural seed planter that is usually pulled by atractor for depositing the seeds in parallel rows formed within theground. Commonly, the vehicle carries an elongated conveyor which can bepositioned for receiving the seeds within each bin or chamber through abottom outlet and for elevating and delivering the seeds to seedreceiving compartments within the seed planter. The conveyor may also bepositioned for receiving a supply of seeds at the ground level andconveying the seeds above the open top chambers of the vehicle forfilling seeds into each chamber. Preferably, the elevator is stored andcarried by the vehicle for conveniently using the conveyor to add seedsto the open top chambers of the vehicle and to deliver seeds from thevehicle to the seed planter.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to an improved vehicle for receivingand delivering agricultural seeds or granular material to a planter andwhich includes a new support system for an elongated conveyor that maybe easily maneuvered into many various positions including a positionfor filling grains into each vehicle chamber, a position for deliveringseed from the bottom outlet of each chamber of the vehicle to differentcompartments of a seed planter, a variable position outboard of thevehicle for use as a separate independent conveyor as well as a storageposition carried by and within the boundaries of the vehicle.

The conveyor support system of the invention includes a first elongatedsupport arm having one end portion pivotally connected to one of theside walls of the vehicle container for movement of the first supportarm in first and second directions. A second elongated support arm hasone end portion pivotally connected to an opposite end portion of thefirst support arm for movement relative to the first support arm, andthe second support arm has an opposite end portion connected to anintermediate portion of the conveyor preferably at its center of gravityand with the conveyor in suspended relation. The first support arm andthe second support arm provide for pivoting and tilting movement of theconveyor in vertical and horizontal directions. Preferably, the firstsupport arm is power operated to move or tilt in a horizontal directionand is also power operated to tilt in a vertical direction.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seed receiving and delivering vehicleor seed tender constructed in accordance with the invention and showingan elongated seed conveyor positioned in a stored position by theconveyor support system of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 with theconveyor supported by the support system for receiving grain from one ofthe vehicle chambers;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view showing the conveyor position forreceiving seed from another chamber of the vehicle and with the conveyorpositioned at a lower incline;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 with the conveyor shownat a steeper inclined position by the support system;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vehicle with the conveyor positionedand supported by the support system for adding seed into a rear open topchamber of the vehicle;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 and showing the conveyorsupported and positioned for adding seed to the front open top seedchamber of the vehicle;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the vehicle with the conveyor supportedoutboard of and parallel to the vehicle by the support system for use ofthe conveyor at different inclinations for transporting seed from asupply to a container separate from the vehicle;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the power actuator forrotating the first arm of the conveyor support system in a horizontaldirection;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the vehicle with the first arm of the conveyorsupport system in an upward inclined position;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the power actuator fortilting the first arm of the conveyor support system in a verticalplane; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the suspended supportof the conveyor from the second arm of the conveyor support system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile seed tender vehicle 15 includes afabricated steel trailer 16 which may be supported by endless tracks ora set of wheels 18 on the left and right sides of the trailer, andincludes a tongue 20 for connecting the trailer 16 to a tow vehicle (notshown). A jack 22 supports the forward end portion of the trailer 16when disconnected from the tow vehicle. A fabricated steel seed supportframe 26 is supported within the trailer 16 by a set of load cellsextending between the frames for weighing the frame 26 with itssupporting structure and seed, in a conventional manner.

A seed receiving container 30 is fabricated of sheet metal and includesupper side walls 32 and 34 and sloping or inclined bottom walls 36 and38 which extend from the side walls and vertical end walls 41 and 42 todefine an elongated open top chamber for receiving seed. As shown inFIG. 1, the elongated container 30 also has an intermediate wall 44which is secured to the opposite side walls 32 and 34 and inclined sidewalls 36 to define a forward seed receiving chamber 46 and a rearwardseed receiving chamber 48 in order for the container 30 to receive twodifferent types of seeds. If additional types of seeds are desired to bereceived and delivered, additional intermediate walls 44 may be used todefine additional seed receiving chambers.

The seed tender vehicle 15 also supports an elongated seed conveyor 55which has a material receiving end portion or hopper 58 at one end and aseed discharge outlet 62 at the opposite end. Preferably, the elongatedconveyor 55 is constructed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,096,376 whichissued to the assignee of the present invention and includes anelongated tubular conveyor housing 65 enclosing a conveying member, suchas a power operated elongated endless flexible conveyor belt forconveying seed through the tubular housing. However, other forms of seedconveyors may also be used, such as, for example, a power operatedendless belt conveyor within a rectangular housing and withlongitudinally spaced slats for holding the seed in place on theconveyor belt.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, each of the seed receiving chambers 46 and 48 hasa bottom discharge outlet which may be selectively opened and closed bya sliding closure plate 64 so that seed from either chamber 46 or 48 maybe discharged into the hopper 58 of the conveyor 55. The container 30 isalso provided with inspection windows 72 which have transparent plasticclosure sheets. The container 30 is also provided with a ladder 76 (FIG.9) located adjacent the right side wall 32 of the container to providefor inspecting the seed within the chambers 46 or 48 from above thechambers.

In accordance with the present invention, the conveyor 55 is supportedby a conveyor support system 85 (FIG. 3) which includes a base supportbracket 87 (FIG. 8) secured to the left vertical side wall 34 of thecontainer 30 in alignment with the vertical wall 44 separating the seedchambers 46 and 48. The conveyor support system 85 includes a firstelongated support arm 90 (FIGS. 3 & 10) formed by parallel spaced armmembers 92 and 94 having inner end portions pivotally connected to aU-shaped end bracket 97 (FIGS. 8 & 10) by a set of pivot cross pins orbolts 99. The bracket 97 is secured to a vertical shaft 102 which issupported for rotation on a vertical axis by the flanges of the bracket87. Thus, the first support arm 90 is supported for movement in a firstdirection about the vertical shaft 102. In this embodiment, the firstdirection is horizontal movement about the vertical shaft 102. Theparallel arm members 92 and 94 may move in second direction in a planeon the pivot bolts 99. In this embodiment, the parallel arm members 92and 94 pivot in a vertical plane. As shown in FIG. 8, the shaft 102 andthe first support arm 90 are rotated horizontally by a power actuator105, including a hydraulic cylinder 107. The cylinder 107 has a pistonrod 108 connected to an elongated rack 110 having teeth which engageteeth on a sprocket 112 secured to the bottom end portion of the shaft102. Thus, actuation of the cylinder 107, rotates the first support arm90 horizontally on the vertical axis of the shaft 102.

Referring to FIG. 11, the parallel arm members 92 and 94 of the firstconveyor support arm 90 have outer end portions pivotally connected to aC-shaped end bracket 115 by a set of pivot pins or bolts 117 so that thearm members 92 and 94 remain parallel as they pivot on the bolts 99 and117. Referring to FIG. 10, the first support arm 90 of the conveyorsupport system 85 is pivoted in a vertical plane by a power actuator 125in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 127 extending from a flange or rib129 secured to the lower arm member 94 and pivotally connected to thecylinder by a cross pin or bolt 132. The cylinder 127 has a piston rod134 which is pivotally connected to a flange or rib 136 secured to theupper arm member 92 by a cross pivot pin or bolt 132. Thus, extensionand retraction of the piston rod 134 of the hydraulic cylinder 125 iseffective to pivot the first support arm 90 upward and downward in avertical plane and through a generally horizontal position shown in FIG.7 to an upwardly projecting inclined position as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 3-7 and 11, the conveyor support system 85 alsoincludes a second elongated support arm 150 which has an inner endportion pivotally connected to the bracket 115 by a vertical pivot pin152 (FIG. 9) so that the arm 150 is free to pivot or swing in ahorizontal plane relative to the bracket 115. The arm 150 has an outerend portion which supports an inverted U-shaped bracket or clevis 153for rotation on a vertical axis of a support pin 154 secured to the arm150 by a nut 156. As also shown in FIG. 11, the inverted U-shapedbracket 153 is connected by a horizontal cross pin 158 to a pair ofspaced flanges or ribs 160 secured to a curved plate 162 attached to thetubular housing 65 of the conveyor 55 at substantially the center ofgravity of the conveyor 55. Thus, the conveyor is suspended from thesecond support arm 150 and is free to pivot in a vertical plane on thehorizontal axis of the pivot pin 158 and rotate horizontally on the axisof the pin 154.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 and 9, the conveyor support system 85 of theinvention provides for many selective positions of the conveyor 55 suchas a storage position shown in FIG. 1 where the conveyor may rest oneither support pad 170 supported by a frame 172 at each end of the seedsupport frame 26. The system 85 also supports the conveyor at a seeddelivery position with the hopper 58 under the outlet of each of theseed chambers 46 and 48 for unloading each chamber, as shown in FIGS.2-4, a seed filling or loading position for each of the chambers 46 and48 and shown in FIGS. 5 & 6, and an outboard seed delivery and conveyingsystem as shown in FIG. 7. In this position of FIG. 7, the conveyor 55may be moved by the conveyor support system 85 from a substantiallyhorizontal position adjacent the ground to a substantially inclinedposition even greater than the inclined position shown in FIG. 7. Bypivoting the first support arm 90 to an upwardly inclined position, asshown in FIG. 9, the conveyor 55 may also be inclined to a position forthe discharge outlet 62 is at an elevation substantially higher than thecontainer 30 for conveying seed to a higher position, for example, intoa storage bin or a container of a semi-trailer.

From the drawings in the above description, it is apparent that a seedtender vehicle constructed in accordance with the invention providesdesirable features and advantages. For example, the conveyor supportsystem 85 provides a wide selection for the position of the seedconveyor 55, for example from a substantially horizontal positionoutboard of the seed container 30 to a substantially inclined positionwhere the discharge end 62 of the conveyor 55 is at an elevationsubstantially above the height of the seed receiving container 30. Theconstruction of the conveyor support system 85, including the firstsupport arm 90 and the second support arm 150 and the suspended andpivotal support of the conveyor 55 at substantially its center ofgravity, provides these advantages and enable the seed conveyor 55 to bemoved manually to many positions without using the power actuator 105and/or 125. However, when it is desired to elevate the conveyor 55 to asubstantially inclined position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 9, the poweractuators 125 and 105 are used to position the conveyor at the desiredposition.

While the form of seed tender vehicle herein described constitutes apreferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to this precise form of vehicle, and thatchanges may be made therein without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle for receiving and discharging granularmaterial comprising: a frame supporting a container having wallsdefining two separated open top chambers for receiving the material,each of the open top chambers having a bottom outlet with a closure fordischarging the material, an elongated conveyor having a housingenclosing a moveable conveying member, the conveyor having a materialreceiving end portion at one end and a discharge outlet at the oppositeend, with the material receiving end portion including a hopperconfigured to deliver granular material to one end of the moveableconveying member, a support system for the conveyor and including a basesupport member, a first support arm including an upper elongated armmember and a lower elongated arm member in spaced relation from oneanother, with each arm member having opposite end portions pivotallyconnected to opposite end members for pivotal movement of each armmember relative to each end member, one of the end members of firstsupport arm pivotally connected to the base support member andsupporting one end portion of the first support arm for pivotalmovement, and an elongated second support arm having one end portionpivotally connected to an opposite end member of the first support armfor pivotal movement relative to the first support arm, the secondsupport arm having an opposite end portion coupled to an intermediateportion of the housing in suspended relation to provide for pivotal andtilting movement of the conveyor in vertical and horizontal directions,wherein the bottom outlets of the two separated open top chambers arepositioned proximate to one another such that when the support systempositions the conveyor in an inclined unloading position, the hopper onthe material receiving end portion is positioned underneath the bottomoutlets to receive granular material from either of the open topchambers, thereby enabling unloading of granular material from both ofthe open top chambers without requiring movement of the materialreceiving end portion of the conveyor.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1,further comprising a first power actuator connected to the upper andlower elongated arm members of the first support arm to pivot the firstsupport arm, the second support arm and the conveyor in a substantiallyvertical direction.
 3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising asecond power actuator adjacent the base support member and connected torotate the first support arm, the second support arm and the conveyor ina substantially horizontal direction.
 4. The vehicle of claim 1, whereinthe opposite end portion of the second support arm is coupled to anintermediate portion of the housing in suspended relation atsubstantially the center of gravity of the conveyor, thereby enablingmovement of the conveyor to many different positions by manualmanipulation without use of one or more power actuators.
 5. The vehicleof claim 1, wherein the first support arm and the second support armprovide for moving the conveyor between an unloading position with thematerial receiving end portion of the conveyor located under the outletof the container and a loading position with the discharge outlet of theconveyor located above the open top container.
 6. The vehicle of claim1, wherein when the conveyor is in the loading position the materialreceiving end portion remains in substantially the same position as theconveyor is pivoted to move the discharge outlet back and forth abovethe open top container.
 7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the supportsystem enables movement of the conveyor between each of the followingpositions: a storage position adjacent the container, the inclinedunloading position with the material receiving end portion of theconveyor located under the bottom outlets of the container, an inclinedloading position with the discharge outlet of the conveyor located abovethe open top container, and an inclined position spaced laterallyoutwardly from the vehicle for unloading adjacent vehicles.
 8. Thevehicle of claim 1, wherein the first power actuator is located betweenthe upper arm member and the lower arm member of the first support armand is pivotally connected to the upper and lower arm members.
 9. Thevehicle of claim 1, wherein the elongated conveyor comprises a tubularhousing enclosing an endless flexible belt having end portions extendingaround end rollers, and the housing is effective to curve side portionsof the belt upwardly to confine the material on the belt within thetubular housing.
 10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the upper elongatedarm member and the lower elongated arm member are in spaced relationfrom one another along an entire length of the first support arm, suchthat the upper and lower elongated arm members define a set of pivotjoints spaced apart from one another on each of the opposite endmembers.
 11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the upper and lowerelongated arm members of the first support arm are in parallel spacedrelation to one another along the length of the first support arm.